Microbiological and Toxicological Effects of Perla Black Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Extracts: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Abstract: We investigated the microbiological and toxicological effects of three Perla black bean extracts on the growth and culture of selected pathogenic microorganisms, the toxicity over Vero cell lines and an in vivo rat model. Three different solvents were used to obtain Perla black bean extracts. All three Perla black bean extracts were tested for antibacterial and antiparasitic activity and further analysed for intrinsic cytotoxicity (IC₅₀). Methanol Perla black bean extract was used for acute toxicity test in rats, with the up‐and‐down doping method. All Perla black bean extracts inhibited bacterial growth. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Listeria monocytogenes showed inhibition, while Escherichia coli and Enterobacter aerogenes did not. Acidified water and acetic acid Perla black bean extract were tested in parasites. The best IC₅₀ was observed for Giardia lamblia, while higher concentrations were active against Entamoeba histolytica and Trichomonas vaginalis. The Vero cells toxicity levels (IC₅₀) for methanol, acidified water and acetic acid Perla black bean extract were [mean ± S.D. (95% CI)]: 275 ± 6.2 (267.9–282.0), 390 ± 4.6 (384.8–395.2) and 209 ± 3.39 (205.6–212.4) µg/ml, respectively. In vivo acute toxicity assays did not show changes in absolute organ weights, gross and histological examinations of selected tissues or functional tests. The acetic acid and methanol Perla black bean extract proved to exhibit strong antibacterial activity and the acidified water Perla black bean extract exerted parasiticidal effects against Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba hystolitica and Trichomonas vaginalis. The three Perla black bean extracts assayed over Vero cells showed very low toxicity and the methanol Perla black bean extract in vivo did not cause toxicity.     

Calorie restriction alters physical performance but not cognition in two models of altered neuroendocrine signaling

A major neuroendocrinological effect of calorie restriction (CR) is induction of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the arcuate nucleus (ARC). Aside from its appetite-stimulating effects, NPY is thought to be involved in the modulation of behavioral processes including anxiety and learning and memory. In the present study physical fitness, anxiety, and learning/memory-related tasks were assessed in mice lacking NPY or a functional ARC after dietary manipulation by CR. Physical fitness was improved by CR when measured by inclined screen and rotarod, and this diet effect was not affected by NPY or ARC status. As has been observed previously, the NPY knockout mice displayed heightened anxiety in an open field. This phenotype was not fully recapitulated in the ARC-lesioned model. CR affected neither total locomotor activity in the open field nor thigmotaxic behavior in these models. Neither NPY nor CR had a significant effect on Morris water maze performance; however, ARC-damaged mice were unable to learn the task, and this deficit was not corrected by CR. We conclude that despite established effects of CR on ARC signaling, our results suggest a mechanistic separation between the two where behavior is concerned.     

Prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of aripiprazole as a monotherapy in patients with severe chronic posttraumatic stress disorder: an open trial

The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole in outpatients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on a 12-week, open-label trial. Twenty-two subjects with DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD participated; 16 were combat veterans. The primary outcome measure was PTSD symptom severity assessed with the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Secondary outcome measures included the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale and the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Scales. All subjects had a CAPS score of > or = 60 at baseline. Lifetime history of psychotic disorders or bipolar illness was exclusionary. The overall analysis across time was Repeated Measures ANOVA, using Bonferroni corrections. Fourteen subjects completed 12 weeks of treatment. Eight subjects dropped-out due to side effects. For patients who discontinued, missing values were estimated using "the last observation carried forward" method. Significant improvements were seen on: CAPS total, all its subscales, positive symptoms, anxiety and depression scores. Fourteen participants were classified as responders, defined by 20% or greater improvement on CAPS total score. Of the 13 subjects who completed final ratings, CAPS total scores improved significantly (P = .011). Two subjects attained remission of PTSD (CAPS < 20), and three had a final CAPS < or = 26. The mean daily dose of aripiprazole was 12.95 mg. The most common side effects were somnolence (54.5%), restlessness (50%), insomnia (36.4%), and asthenia (31.8%). These results indicate that aripiprazole was effective in about two thirds of subjects that tolerated this medication. The initially high dropout rate may be related to intolerability due to a high starting dose (10 mg), suggesting beginning treatment at lower doses. These preliminary results are encouraging; a double blind study seems warranted.     

Inaccuracy of asthma-related self-reported health-care utilization data compared to Medicaid claims

Background. Benefits outweigh risks of cardioselective beta-blocker therapy in patients with nonsevere asthma and a history of heart failure or myocardial infarction (MI). This review summarizes the risks versus benefits of using cardioselective beta-blockers in the treatment of hypertension in patients with asthma. Methods. We searched the English literature from 1976 to 2011 via PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS using the following search terms: “beta-blocker treatment of hypertension” AND “asthma”; “cardioselective beta-blockers” AND “asthma.” When pertinent articles were found, we assessed relevant articles cited in those papers. All studies related to cardioselective beta-blocker use in patients with asthma and hypertension were included. Results. Seven studies with patient populations ranging from 10 to 17 patients evaluated cardioselective beta-blockers in patients with asthma and hypertension. Atenolol and/or immediate-release metoprolol were evaluated in these studies. The duration of beta-blocker therapy in four studies was 1–8 weeks; two studies were single dose and one investigation lasted 8 months. Metoprolol and atenolol were generally well tolerated except at higher doses such as metoprolol >100 mg daily. Conclusion. In the absence of concomitant cardiovascular disease, routine use of beta-blockers for the treatment of hypertension in patients with asthma should be avoided     

Myocardial infarct immediately after a normal exercise test

Two cases of myocardial infarction immediately following a normal stress testing, are described. The incidence and possible pathophysiological mechanisms are discussed. In one of the patients it was difficult to establish the pathophysiological mechanism which was the cause of the ischemic event. In the other, the coronary arteriography revealed only minimal obstructive disease. Therefore, coronary vasospasm with thrombus formation as a cause of the infarction ia an interesting speculative possibility in view of the angiographic findings. Acute myocardial infarction after a normal electrocardiographic response to maximal exercise testing is extremely rare, and the precise pathophysiologic mechanism that leads to his complication is not clear.     

Presence of a 16/6 related human anti-DNA common idiotype (SA1) in the anticardiolipin antibodies of patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) have few or no autoantibodies, other than the antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) that could be natural autoantibodies encoded by germline genes. Some of the autoantibodies marked by the human anti-DNA common idiotype 16/6 have been found to be encoded by unmutated germline genes. Hence, we tested the sera of 19 patients with PAPS for the presence of the 16/6 idiotype which has also been found to be expressed on antibodies that bind cardiolipin. For this we used an ELISA method with antiserum against the SA1 idiotype which recognizes the 16/6. Five of our patients had the idiotype in at least one serum. Among the patients there was one with a variant of PAPS with hemolytic anemia and an IgM antibody to phosphatidylcholine that is akin to the natural autoantibody of normal mice encoded by germline genes VH11 and VH12. Inhibition studies with ssDNA, dsDNA and cardiolipin revealed that all 3 antigens decreased the serum levels of the SA1 idiotype despite absence of detectable anti-DNA antibodies by other methods. Our findings suggest that within the B cell clones that produce aPL in patients with PAPS there are some that produce immunoglobulins bearing 16/6 related idiotypes. This could indicate that some of the aPL present in patients with PAPS derive from natural autoantibody producing cell clones.     

Effects of indorenate on food intake: a comparison with fenfluramine and amphetamine

Indorenate (TR3369, 5-methoxytryptamine b-methylcarboxylate HCl) is a 5-HT₁-like receptor agonist with hypotensive activity. Here, we describe that indorenate also decreases food intake (ED₅₀ 26.1 mg/kg) without an appreciable effect in water intake (the estimated ED₅₀ for water was 589.8 mg/kg). The anorectic activity of indorenate was compared to the effects of amphetamine and other serotonin agonists; the effect of indorenate was smaller than those of the other compounds; however, the effect of indorenate was specific to food, whereas all the other drugs also produced significant decrements in water intake. The serotonin antagonists cinanserin, cyproheptadine, methergoline and methysergide effectively prevented the decrease in food intake produced by indorenate and fenfluramine. Haloperidol, a dopaminergic antagonist, was ineffective in preventing the effect of indorenate although it prevented the anorectic effect of amphetamine. The present results suggest the participation of serotoninergic, but not dopaminergic mechanisms, in the decrease in food intake produced by indorenate.     

Folate levels and N(5),N(10)-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotype (MTHFR) in mothers of offspring with neural tube defects: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Neural tube defects (NTDs) have been associated with biochemical factors involved in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine as folate deficiency and the mutation 677T in the N(5),N(10)-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR). METHODS: A case-control study was performed to detect this mutation in 38 unrelated women with NTD deceased products and 31 mothers without antecedents of NTD offspring. All products were born in Nuevo León (northeastern Mexico) during 1997. Erythrocyte and plasmatic folate levels and the genotype of the 677 polymorphism at the MTHFR locus were analyzed in both groups. RESULTS: Although no significant differences were found in mean blood folate levels, the percentage of women in the case group with erythrocyte folate levels <160 ng/mL was significantly higher than in the control group (75 vs. 51.2%, p <0.05). The proportion of women with plasma folate levels <3.5 ng/mL was higher in the case group (16.2 vs. 0%, p <0.01). Genotype analysis demonstrated a significantly higher proportion of 677T homozygous mothers with NTD products (39.6 vs. 9.1%, p <0.05). Allele frequencies for the 677T mutation were 0.55 and 0.36 for cases and controls, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) for having a NTD product was 6.1 (95%, CI 1.56-23.6) for homozygous 677T mothers vs. homozygous 677C and heterozygous mothers. Significantly low levels of erythrocyte folate were found in the 677C homozygous case group and in plasma folate in the 677C/677T heterozygous case mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that folate deficiency and MTHFR unfavorable genotype in mothers are important risk factors for severe NTD phenotype in our population.